Ambulance centre planned for Brighton

SECamb already has five Make Ready Centres in Kent, Surrey and Sussex

Ambulances currently based at six stations in Sussex could soon be cleaned and prepared at a purpose-built centre in Brighton.

South East Coast Ambulance Service (SECamb) said it would seek planning permission for a Make Ready Centre at Woollards Field in Lewes Road, Falmer.

If the plans are approved, vehicles will be cleaned, restocked and maintained there by specialist staff.

Ambulance staff will also begin and end shifts at the centre.

During shifts, ambulances will respond to emergencies from a network of community response posts.

Station closures

"These posts will be located based on patient demand," said SECamb estates manager Geoff Catling.

"Many of the Trust's current ambulance stations were built more than 30 years ago and not in the best position for responding to patients quickly.

"This is why you might see ambulances on 'standby' in locations that are not ambulance stations because they are closer to patient demand."

Staff currently reporting to Brighton, Burgess Hill, Haywards Heath, Hove, Lewes and Newhaven will be affected and some current stations may face closure.

SECamb already has Make Ready Centres in Ashford, Paddock Wood and Thanet in Kent, Chertsey in Surrey and Hastings in East Sussex.